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Interesting, but the "tax professionals" are sometimes not all that they are cracked up to be. For the "tax professional" the audit is a game. The way they often operate is "well the IRS (or state authority) says you owe $X. I think they'll take $Y, so just offer them that." -- without regard to whether you really owe anything. The problem is that if you are 100% correct, and the tax authority is using its power to cower you into just settling, the "tax professional" does not do an effective job. Rather than fight tooth and nail with the law and regs on your side, they will just encourage you to settle. It's easier for them and just part of the "game." The tax authorites know this. They will just say you owe them something, even though their arguments are weak, and they will assume you will just settle to get them to leave you alone. Easy money. In this regard, the "tax professional" is simply helping perpetuate a corrupt system.

In their support, I will agree that the "tax professional" is invaluable for people who can't keep their mouths shut and freely chat with the IRS, such as the woman above who said her husband's tractor was like a hobby.

The Better Idea: End the Income Tax once and for all and get rid of the intrusive anal exam of family finances by government.

To get the ball rolling and focus Congress Critter's attention:

H.R.2714
Sponsor: Rep Largent, Steve(introduced 8/2/2001)
Title: To terminate the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
A bill to prohibit he imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2005.

Kill the income and other related taxes outright, and provide a reasonable replacement:

H.R.2525
SPONSOR: Rep Linder, John (introduced 07/17/2001)
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
Refer: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org

the modification then enactment and ratification of:

H.J.RES.45
Sponsor: (introduced 4/25/2001)
Latest Major Action: 5/9/2001 Referred to House subcommitte.
Title: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the Untied States Government from engaging in the business in competition with its citizens.

(Modified to prohibit all income, payroll, gift estate taxes as HR2525 calls for, or we will see European VAT style hidden taxes along with payroll excises to take over in the place of the of the current individual income tax(i.e. personal income tax) that Ron Paul amendment prohibits.)

And to keep em reminded that there is indeed a Constitution to pay attention to:

H.R.175
Sponsor: (introduced 1/3/2001)
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2001 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes.

IRS AUDIT

A man who had been called to testify at the Internal Revenue Service asked his accountant for advice on what to wear. "Wear your shabbiest clothing. Let him think you are a pauper," the accountant replied.

Then he asked his lawyer the same question, but got the opposite advice. "Don't let them intimidate you. Wear your most elegant suit and tie."

Confused, the man went to his priest, told him of the conflicting advice, and requested some resolution on the dilemma. "Let me tell you a story," replied the priest. "A woman, about to be married, asked her mother what to wear on her wedding night. 'Wear a heavy, long, flannel nightgown that goes right up to your neck. But when she asked her best friend, she got conflicting advice. 'Wear your most sexy negligee, with a V-neck right down to your navel.'"

Confused, the man asked, "What does all this have to do with my problem with the IRS?"

"Simple," replied the Priest. "It doesn't matter what you wear, you're going to get screwed."